More info to follow.

AWSC LEGISLATIVE DAY
WHEN: Thursday, March 26th, 2009
WHERE: Concourse Hotel, 1 W. Dayton Street, Madison (1 block off Capitol Square at corners of Dayton Street & Wisconsin Avenue) The AWSC’s conference room at the Concourse Hotel will open at 9:00 a.m. We will gather officially at 10:00 a.m. for a briefing before we proceed to the State Capitol.

We strongly encourage each of you to contact your legislators in advance of March 26th to schedule meetings or to simply inform them you will be visiting their offices. Inform legislative staff you intend to discuss AWSC issues and that your scheduled meeting should not require more than 15 minutes.

We suggest you arrange your meetings between 10:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. on that day. Our Legislative Day should conclude at approximately 2:00 p.m.

BUS INFORMATION

 Eau Claire to Madison:
o Contact Doug Johnson, (715) 268-6025
E-Mail: djsnow@amerytel.net

 Wausau to Madison:
o Contact Todd & Tess Barkow, (715) 257-1427
E-Mail: teamtnt2000@yahoo.com

 Green Bay to Madison:
o Contact Andy Malecki, (920) 494-3052

E-Mail: afmelm@sbcglobal.net At this time, there are 3 AWSC-sponsored busses reserved for March 26th. We encourage you to choose a bus closest to you and then contact the individual (listed above) coordinating travel.

If you have additional questions or need further assistance, do not hesitate to contact Morris Nelson at (608) 884-8461. Upon your arrival in Madison, we will provide updated briefing materials and handouts.

What are the "AWSC issues" that will be discussed?

I do not have a copy of the "cheat sheet" with me. They will be handed out at the 10 am meeting. Or contact Morris with any question or concerns. He is the Rock County Director.

AWSC LEGISLATIVE ISSUES

2009-2010 Session

It is the Wisconsin snowmobiler who is responsible for our state’s nationally-acclaimed trail system. It is the volunteer snowmobiler – not some state entity – who works with land owners to acquire access to properties, and works year-round to groom, grade and maintain our trails. The millions of dollars these volunteers spend out-of-pocket on grooming machines, on fuel, on trail signs and markings, and various expenses provide a tourism magnet and revenue stream beneficial to all Wisconsin residents. In return, the Wisconsin snowmobiler asks for little from government beyond the necessary enforcement of safety measures and maintenance of registration and permitting records. To further burden these volunteers with additional expenses is unfair, and we specifically cite:


 Use of the Snowmobile Segregated Account to provide for DNR Wardens
o Although the AWSC desires to contribute its fair share toward warden enforcement, funds designed to remedy annual shortfalls in Supplemental Funds have been raided to balance the DNR’s budget in order to compensate wardens.
o At the request of the AWSC, Governor Doyle in 2008 signed into law an increase in the non-resident Trail Pass Fee. This increase was requested solely to fund trail maintenance programs.
o In the past, warden enforcement funding typically derived from the Gaming Fund. This latest DNR Agency Budget directs $128,000 from the Snowmobile Segregated Account to warden enforcement.


* * * * The AWSC also encourages legislators to consider the following:

 Past & Present Safety Issues
o It is the AWSC which brought about the current dusk-to-dawn 55 MPH limit.
o It is the AWSC which created mandatory youth safety training programs.
o The AWSC has endorsed and funded past enforcement programs designed to foster the visible presence of wardens on our trails. The AWSC is currently working with the DNR, recreational vehicle interest groups and the public to create sensible, uniform programs to prevent operating on trails while under the influence of alcohol.

 Discounted Trail Pass Fee for Snowmobile Club Members (C.A.P. Program)
o At a later date, the AWSC may present to the Legislature a request to raise the Resident Trail Pass Fee to $35/year.
o That same request would include a provision which retains the current $15/year Trail Pass Fee for club members to offset costs related to trail maintenance.

Obviously some of this was brought up at the last govenors council meeting but was the
"Discounted Trail Pass Fee for Snowmobile Club Members (C.A.P. Program)
o At a later date, the AWSC may present to the Legislature a request to raise the Resident Trail Pass Fee to $35/year.
o That same request would include a provision which retains the current $15/year Trail Pass Fee for club members to offset costs related to trail maintenance." brought up?

The problem I see is that just because you belong to a club you will get a discount... belonging to a few different clubs (non snowmobile) there are way to many people who join clubs and dont do a dang thing, so why should they get a discount?
I think that the people who actually do the work should be the only ones getting this benefit, because they do deserve it.

Also as a land owner who provides my land for use I would like to see this discount extended to us. We pay taxes on our land (costing alot more then a trail pass) ,hopefully we take care of our land and provide it to the clubs for use. I do understand that we receive a thank you banquet, but this I think could help.

I can't answer your questions about the governor's council. Best bet would be to call Morris Nelson and talk to him.

If the trail that goes through your land is a funded trail don't you receive some compensation?

I agree 100% with you but that would be hard to figure out for some clubs.

None of the family has been compensated, we have just been invited to the land owner appreciation dinner.

Really. If our land owners have a funded trail go through their property. Then the get so much $ for the total rods of land we use. Usually it's not much but something. We also give out a truck to all of our land owners.
If crop damage is done we pay for that also.

That would be nice to have...

Sorry, not truck but turkey. I really messed up that post.